Imaging apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a radiation detector; a collimator; wherein the collimator and the radiation detector are configured to collectively translate relative to a radiation source along a direction without relative movement the collimator and the radiation detector; wherein the collimator comprises a plurality of planar plates parallel to one another; and wherein the planar plates are not parallel to the direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a radiation detector;   a collimator;   wherein the collimator and the radiation detector are configured to collectively translate relative to a radiation source along a direction without relative movement between the collimator and the radiation detector;   wherein the collimator comprises a plurality of planar plates parallel to one another; and   wherein the planar plates are not parallel to the direction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the planar plates and the direction is smaller than 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 25 degrees, or 45 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the planar plates are perpendicular to a radiation receiving surface of the radiation detector. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collimator and the radiation detector are configured to collectively move to a plurality of positions by translating along the direction relative to the radiation source. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is configured to capture images of portions of a scene at the plurality of positions. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is configured to form an image of the scene by stitching the images of portions. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector comprises an array of pixels. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector is hexagonal in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the radiation detector is configured to count numbers of particles of radiation incident on the pixels, within a period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the particles of radiation are photons of X-ray. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the radiation detector comprises:
 a radiation absorption layer comprising an electric contact;   a first voltage comparator configured to compare a voltage of the electric contact to a first threshold;   a second voltage comparator configured to compare the voltage to a second threshold;   a counter configured to register at least one of the numbers;   a controller;   wherein the controller is configured to start a time delay from a time at which the first voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the first threshold;   wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator during the time delay;   wherein the controller is configured to cause at least one of the numbers to increase by one, when the second voltage comparator determines that an absolute value of the voltage equals or exceeds an absolute value of the second threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an integrator electrically connected to the electric contact, wherein the integrator is configured to collect charge carriers from the electric contact. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the second voltage comparator at a beginning or expiration of the time delay. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to connect the electric contact to an electrical ground. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a rate of change of the voltage is substantially zero at expiration of the time delay. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector does not comprise a scintillator. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the planar plates are not perpendicular to the direction.